Approaches to energy security

The Russian-Ukrainian war has caused many concerns at European level also from the perspective of energy resources, in the sense of uninterrupted supply. The conflict has shown, once again, the importance of Romania's energy security, a vital component of the national security policy. Energy security depends on a number of factors such as energy resources, geopolitical situation and transportation routes.

The Romanian energy minister, Virgil Popescu, has stated, in this sense, that the country has no problem in providing natural gas for the cold season, because there are sufficient stocks. He has added that Romania can overcome, without problems, potential consumption peaks generated by negative temperatures. He has explained that the country currently has almost 780 million cubic meters of gas more than it had in the same period of last year. Moreover, the energy minister has given assurances that there are no reasons of concern due to the embargo on Russian diesel oil, which has recently come into force. Minister Virgil Popescu has said that he discussed with all the major importers of oil products on the market, and that they diversified their sources of supply, so as to eliminate any disruptions.

Therefore, Romania will successfully overcome the ban imposed on Russian diesel oil, just as it succeeded at the end of last year, with the ban on crude oil, Virgil Popescu pointed out. The diversification of supply sources is one of the concerns of the Romanian authorities. Last week, Romania and Azerbaijan extended the contract for the delivery of Azeri natural gas to Romania. The document, signed in Baku, provides for the possibility of delivering quantities of up to one billion cubic meters until March 31, 2024 and will enter into force on April 1, this year. On a visit to Azerbaijan, the Romanian head of state, Klaus Iohannis, has stated that, in recent years, Bucharest has made substantial investments in the development of gas transport capacity as well as of a connectivity system with neighboring countries.

In turn, the Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă stated, after a meeting held in Cairo, at the end of last week, with the Egyptian Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Tarek El Molla, that Romania was interested in completing the consumption needs using the Egyptianliquefiednatural gas terminal, until the moment when it will be able to capitalize on the deep-sea gas from the Black Sea. Nicolae Ciucă believes that solutions will be found to supplement the amount needed for Romania, as well as to offer support to the Republic of Moldova. On the occasion ofthe Prime Minister Ciucă's visit to Cairo, a cooperation agreement was signed between the Romanian Transgaz Company and the Egyptian gas transport company. (LS)